THE Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, received his MBE at a ceremony held in Windsor last week.

He was accompanied by his wife, Mayoress, Natalia, and received his award from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.

The Investiture was held in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle.

Frank said that he a long conversation with Prince William after he presented him with the honour, adding that the Prince had been well-briefed and said his award was well-deserved.

Frank said following the announcement that he was to receive the honour, after it was announced in the New Year's Honours List this year, that he was "doubly delighted" to receive an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

Frank said: "The reason I am doubly delighted is that the citation is for two strings to my bow, for services to people with disabilities and for service to the people of Crediton."

Frank (70) was born without arms, but has not allowed this to rule his life.

A retired teacher, he is also a gifted linguist and a father of five children.

Frank, who was brought up in the East End of London, is well-known for presenting many inspirational talks across the country to groups of children and adults called "Feet First", where one of the activities he demonstrates is peeling a potato with a knife held between his toes.

He has appeared on television many times explaining how his disability has not held him back in life.

Frank was a French teacher for nearly 20 years in schools in North Wales and it was in the 1990s that he left Wales following the untimely death, from cancer, of his first wife, Helen, at the age of 41. When he lived there Frank was also a well-known dog breeder and trainer.

Frank lived in Scotland for a short time before settling in Crediton to be near family who live in Exeter.

VOLUNTARY WORK

Despite being a bi-lateral congenital amputee, he started his voluntary work in 1993 when he became an ambassador for the Jubilee Sailing Trust, raising funds for the building of a new ship, "Tenacious".

He also became involved with REACH, an association for children with hand and arm deficiency, serving on their board of trustees since 1995. He has also been treasurer and chairman of REACH.

He has obtained extraordinary levels of fitness and independence which has attracted extensive media coverage and seen him feature in two inspiring documentaries.

In 1998 he moved to Crediton, where he became a member of the local access group and was chairman for two years, working to increase the accessibility for disabled people in the area.

In 1999 he joined the Rotary Club and became responsible for youth activities and also served as secretary for four years.

Between 2001 and 2005 he became governor of both Crediton primary schools, Landscore Primary and Hayward's Primary, helping the latter move out of special measures.

In 2001 he was appointed as a Disability Qualified Panel member to the appeals service and was elected as a Crediton Town Councillor in 2004.

He has since served as Chairman and Mayor and is now in his eighth term of office.

Frank married Natalia, who came from Russian, in 2008. She is probably the first Russian-born mayoress of any British town, and certainly the first in Crediton.

Using his legs and feet in a way that other people use their arms and hands, many people in Crediton are so accustomed to the way Frank does things such as quietly slipping off his shoe to sign, say, a cheque, with the pen carefully positioned between his toes.

"I think my lack of arms opens people's eyes," he said. "It enables them to view the world in a different light.

"People are instantly interested when they see me driving with my adapted car or opening my wallet and paying with my toes at a shop counter.

"As far as I am concerned, I lead an incredibly fulfilling life."

Frank enjoys his role as Mayor of Crediton and attends and speaks at many functions, meetings and events.

Crediton Town Council has achieved far more than other towns, of late, due to his diligence and inspiration.

In addition, Frank launched the Town Council's Floral Crediton competition, where local residents can enter their gardens into a competition.

He was until recently a Tribunal Judge for the Ministry of Justice, sitting across the Westcountry, largely hearing cases where people are challenging the Department of Work and Pensions judgements for Disability Living Allowance.

More recently Frank became chairman of the board of governors at Pippins pre-school and nursery and was also elected a trustee of Devon Communities Together, formerly known as the Community Council of Devon, to help communities across the county.

He also stood as a Liberal Democrat in recent Mid Devon District Council elections and was one of four Liberal Democrats elected to represent Crediton on the said council.

FRANK'S MOTTO

Frank's motto in life is simple: "Be content with what you have got and you will go far."

He adds: "I don't compare myself with other people. Instead I have my own hurdles and goals that are geared up to please me.

"If I please other people while doing it, then that is great."

Saying this, when Frank told his youngest son that he was to be honoured and be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), his son said: "I am not surprised. I always knew it would be 'when' and not 'if' you received an honour."

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, congratulated Frank on the award.

Mr Stride told the Courier: "Frank totally deserves this very significant honour.

"He has done a great deal through his work for those with disabilities and also an immense amount locally in Crediton.

"I am delighted for him and Natalia.

"Frank is one of life's extraordinary people and he thoroughly deserves to be recognised in this way."

Frank said that he has been told he will be invited to receive his award at a ceremony within the next six months.

Alan Quick